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 Replies: 19 / Views: 9,418 |
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
hello I live in the desert, it gets real hot and real cold, my problem is that I'm worried that my coins may get damages from hot and cold, I keep the coins in the garage because it is safer but it sometimes gets down to 25-30 degrees, and I do not want to keep the coins in the house just incase a break in happens, also in my house we have a fire place and sometimes it can get smoky (sometimes) wwould this affect my coins? and is there a type of box or small safe that can prevent damage? thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
1283 Posts |
It's not the temperature you need to look at it's the humidity that hurts you. Look on CL for a nice old safe, get it and have a locksmith change the combo and you should be good.
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Valued Member
 United States
209 Posts |
Quote:
It's not the temperature you need to look at it's the humidity that hurts you. Look on CL for a nice old safe, get it and have a locksmith change the combo and you should be good.
ok ill check CL out, will I still need to use gelica packets?..i think its called that  |
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
Some locksmiths also sell used safes. Might be more expensive than craigslist, but if you go with a reputable one they will have gone through it already and you'll know it's in good shape and not a drilled-out one. They will usually install it too... and whatever you do bolt it down!
Also I would buy a burglary safe as opposed to a fire safe... often fire safes have a moisture-containing liner and as noted prior moisture is not good.
Last as to the moisture issue I went to Michael's (a craft store) and bought a flower drying kit-- 5 lbs of silica which is enough to do multiple safes--- for a lot less than I could find the stuff marketed for a safe... Put it in a non-airtight container, I used a mason jar with fabric instead of a lit-- and the flower drying silica will change colors when saturated so you know when to swap it out. You can then dry it in the oven for re-use or just toss it since you have 5 lbs of it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
If you have the time, ask the local pharmacy to save the little cannisters of dessicant for you. They just throw it away. I have a half a cat litter pail full of the stuff that we've emptied out of all of the little cannisters and bags.
Chance.
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Any safe that can be carried by a child is pointless. I was given one as a gift and after my break-in I found it opened from the hinges with a small screwdriver. It provides zero protection
I suggest a larger size safe that needs 2 people to carry. It's safer for your stuff and you'll always find more things to put inside
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I keep some papers in a box like that one from Walmart because it was given to me and I can open it with a finger nail file, so its definitely not something I would call a safe, its just a lock box and not a very secure one at that |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have a few sneaky little tricks to prevent a safe box, with contents, from being stolen by crims:
1. Bolt it to the floor, from the inside.
2. Hide the key in a separate part of the house.
3. Put the box on the floor, inside a cupboard.
4. Cover the box with a humble looking cardboard box over the top of it. Cut the cardboard box to size to fit.
As your collection grows, store only your most valuable items in it. The rest of your collection is still available for immediate reference and study.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
666 Posts |
Flathead screwdriver and a hammer will open that safe (and almost all others like it) in about 3 seconds.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
A really small safe of any kind for a coin collection is like buying shoes as you grow. Eventually those shoes will not fit since your feet grow. Same with a coin collection. The too have that problem of growing. If you continue to collect coins, eventually no safe will be big enough.
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Valued Member
United States
58 Posts |
Buying something like that lock box is asking for trouble. You don't need anything to open them just drop it on its corner and the whole lid breaks off.
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Valued Member
United States
209 Posts |
Quote:
A really small safe of any kind for a coin collection is like buying shoes as you grow. Eventually those shoes will not fit since your feet grow. Same with a coin collection. The too have that problem of growing. If you continue to collect coins, eventually no safe will be big enough. thanks everyone on your thoughts, ill save my mula up and buy something with more portection and bigger  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
917 Posts |
If you can save up the money buy a GUN safe as people have already said the moister in the regular fire safes is not good for coins. The makers of any gun safe have accounted for that since obviously moister is not good for guns either (If I could figure it out there would be a smiley face here)then as others have suggested use the silica gel just for added safety.
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Valued Member
United States
110 Posts |
And when your collection will fill up a gun safe buy a gun :-)
Seriously, look at Cabellas or Acadamy this Christmas season as they will be running sales on FIRE PROOF Gun safes.
I would bet you have other valuables besides your collection that should be stored in a safe bolted to the floor.
Edited by CowboyB
11/16/2011 3:59 pm
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Valued Member
United States
75 Posts |
a gun safe is the way to go.
as far as moisture problems in them.....a Golden Rod dehumidifier will take care of that for about $50 (alot of the newer safes I have seen are pre-wired for them).
edit:typo
Edited by T J
11/16/2011 10:32 pm
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Replies: 19 / Views: 9,418 |
Posted 11/15/2011 4:04 pm
